Sioux Falls mayoral candidate Jolene Loetscher pushed back on critics Friday who she says have used a week filled with tumultuous news stories to characterize her as a victim.

During an impromptu press conference at the downtown library aimed at "setting the record straight" on recent controversy surrounding her candidacy, Loetscher said accounts of the hacking complaint she filed with local authorities, a voicemail left on her phone by her opponent Paul TenHaken and the Fraternal Order of Police's statement on her police precincts proposal were inaccurate.

And much of that coverage, she said, has led to unjustified criticism of her and her campaign.

"I want to be abundantly clear on one thing: I am not a victim. I am a fighter," she said. "For those looking for a headline, let it be 'I will not back down and I will stand up for all voices."'

Loetscher noted that the investigation into the alleged hacking of her personal and campaign social media, banking and email accounts is only partially complete with many more weeks left before it will be finished. She said some media members have led the public to believe it's not ongoing.

On the voicemail, in which TenHaken told Loetscher that he had the means to take his campaign negative, Loetscher said those types of remarks are unbecoming of any public office seeker, and exposing that was all she sought to do by releasing the voicemail.

And in regard to the Fraternal Order of Police statement that called a Loetscher campaign ad misleading was based on misinformation. In that statement, the FOP said a campaign ad stated her push for precinct-based policing was supported by "local" law enforcement.

Loetscher, though, said the ad never claimed her proposal was endorsed by local law enforcement. Rather, the ad stated precincts policing has general support from law enforcement, citing other cities that use that method of public safety policing.

"Bottom line, the TV ads did not say what the press release stated, and it's important people know the truth," she said.